Mitsubishi Electric Delivers World's First Helicopter
SatelliteCommunication System
Transmits high-speed, real-time aerial video of disaster areas from
helicopters
Business Wire
TOKYO -- March 28, 2013
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it has
delivered the world's first helicopter satellite communication system (HSA40)
to Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) through the Tokyo branch
of the company's distributor, Seiryo Electric Company. The HSA40 system will
begin operating in early April after airborne station is installed in
helicopter of the Kyoto City Fire Department and base stations are installed
in facilities both at the Kyoto City Fire Department in Kyoto and FDMA in
Tokyo.
The system is expected to be used to gather information on disaster areas to
support the rapid deployment of emergency-response measures. Currently,
information is gathered with the so-called Heli-TV system, which transmits TV
signals directly from a helicopter to a relay station on the ground. The
conventional system can be prone to transmission disruptions due to mountains
or buildings, and in many cases requires an operating relay station in the
proximity of the disaster area.
Mitsubishi Electric's HSA40 helicopter satellite communication system
transmits video and voice data from the helicopter to a satellite, enabling
real-time information such as aerial video to be transmitted reliably to base
stations from anywhere in Japan.
Main features
1) Transmits aerial video of disaster areas to all parts of Japan
- Stable transmission of airborne video by intermittent transmission
synchronized with blade rotation.
- No need for relay stations. Transmissions from helicopters to base
stations can be sent from anywhere in Japan at the same time.
- Communication not affected by mountains or high buildings.
2) Transmits high-quality video and enables bi-directional voice and data
communication
- Uses the newest image compression technology, H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video
Coding, for real-time high-resolution images.
- Bi-directional voice and data communication between airborne and base
stations.
- Retransmission of video and information via ground communication network
or base stations.
3) Lightweight, power saving airborne equipment
- In-cabin equipment of airborne station weighs about 20kg and external
equipment about 35kg, excluding camera equipment.
- Airborne station achieves low-power consumption, enabling operation via
standard power source on helicopters.
Basic specifications
Specifications
Transmit: 14.0 to 14.4GHz
Frequency range
Receive: 12.25 to 12.75GHz
Function Transmission of video images, bi-directional
voice and data communication
Downlink (base station to airborne station):
time diversity method
Transceiving methods
Uplink (airborne station to base station):
intermittent transmission synchronized with
blade rotation
Antenna 0.4mφ parabola antenna, radome size 550φ × 600mm
Satellite tracking method Scanning method by received signal strength
Downlink (base station to helicopter airborne
station): 16kbps
Transmission rates
Uplink (helicopter airborne station to base
station): 384kbps to 10Mbps (maximum)
Maximum flying speed: 160Kt, maximum altitude:
Helicopter operational 11,000ft
requirements (standard) Bank angle: ±30 degrees, pitch angle: ±20
degrees
Power requirements DC28V (standard power source of helicopters)
External equipment: -25 to 50 degrees C,
Operating temperature range
Internal equipment: 0 to 40 degrees C
Power consumption of
900VA or lower (helicopter airborne station)
airborne station
External equipment: approx. 35kg
Weight of airborne station
Internal equipment: approx. 20kg (helicopter
airborne station)
About Mitsubishi Electric
With over 90 years of experience in providing reliable, high-quality products,
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) is a recognized world leader in
the manufacture, marketing and sales of electrical and electronic equipment
used in information processing and communications, space development and
satellite communications, consumer electronics, industrial technology, energy,
transportation and building equipment. Embracing the spirit of its corporate
statement, Changes for the Better, and its environmental statement, Eco
Changes, Mitsubishi Electric endeavors to be a global, leading green company,
enriching society with technology. The company recorded consolidated group
sales of 3,639.4 billion yen (US$ 44.4 billion*) in the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2012. For more information visit http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com
*At an exchange rate of 82 yen to the US dollar, the rate given by the Tokyo
Foreign Exchange Market on March 31, 2012
Contact:
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Customer Inquiries
Satellite Communication Marketing Department
IT Space Solutions Division
Tel: +81-3-3218-3095
Fax: +81-3-3218-9492
http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com/products/space/satellite/index.html
or
Media Inquiries
Yurika Fujimoto, +81-3-3218-3380
Public Relations Division
prd.gnews@nk.MitsubishiElectric.co.jp
http://www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/